Eating well is one of the most positive things you can do to improve your overall health.

The added benefits are that it can :

• lower your blood glucose (sugar) level
• lower your blood cholesterol level
• lower your blood pressure
• help you to maintain a healthy weight
• improve your feeling of well being

Diabetes is a condition in which your body cannot properly use and store food for energy. The fuel that your body needs is called glucose, a form of sugar. Glucose comes from foods such as fruits, milk and milk products, some vegetables, starchy foods and sugar. Just the Basics - Tips for Healthy Eating, Diabetes Prevention And Management will give you some tips to help you until you see a Registered Dietitian. This resource from CDA includes a Handy Portion Guide, sample menus for smaller and larger appetites, ways to increase your physical activity. A Registered Dietitian can help you include your favorite foods in a personalized meal plan.
This document is also available in French language at: francais

Type 1 Diabetes

People with Type 1 diabetes take insulin injections with each meal to manage their blood sugar levels. Those using this type of insulin routine usually determine the carbohydrate content of the foods they eat to determine how much insulin to take with each meal. Basic Carbohydrate Counting For Diabetes Management (CDA 2008) requires individual guidance from the Registered Dietitian on your Diabetes health care team.
This document is also available in French language at: francais

Type 2 Diabetes

For people who have Type 2 diabetes, meal planning involves eating 3 meals per day. Whether to snack or not between meals is usually individualized and the Dietitian on your diabetes health care team can help you. People with diabetes must balance a healthy weight with the need to keep their blood sugars within target range. A healthy lifestyle and a healthy weight can help you prevent or manage diabetes, improve blood sugar, blood pressure and blood lipids(fat). It can also reduce the risk of complications such as heart disease and stroke and improve general well-being and energy levels. Managing Weight And Diabetes - Tips For A Healthy Lifestyle For Adults (CDA 2008) can give you some solutions to deal with weight management challenges.
This document is also available in French language at:francais

Cholesterol Management

Most adults with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes are at high risk for cardiovascular diseases such as heart attack and stroke. High cholesterol usually refers to high LDL (bad) cholesterol. The main goal is to lower LDL-cholesterol. People with diabetes have an increased risk of heart attack and stroke even if their LDL-cholesterol is 'normal'. They have an even higher risk if their LDL cholesterol is elevated. Refer to Cholesterol And Diabetes (CDA 2008) to get tips on reducing your risk of developing cardiovascular disease.
This document is also available in French language at: francais

Label Reading

Label reading is an important skill for someone with diabetes to help you make informed choices about the foods you are eating. Beyond The Basics as well as Healthy Eating Is In Store For You are both resources that can help you make food choices that will improve your overall health.
Individuals interested in acquiring a single copy of Beyond the Basics - Meal Planning for Healthy Eating, Diabetes Prevention and Management should contact a Registered Dietitian at their local Diabetes Education Center. Due to limited space on the Beyond the Basics poster, a Longer List of foods has been developed to allow for greater variety in meal planning. The foods are listed within their food groups in alphabetical order with the "Choose more often" foods listed first. These can be found at Longer List Of Foods To Be Used With The Beyond The Basics.

Fibre

It is recommended that all adults need between 25 and 50 grams of fibre per day. Most Canadians eat much less than recommended. Fibre plays many roles in healthy eating by helping with proper passage of foods and waste. Some fibre may lessen heart disease risks by reducing the absorption of cholesterol into the blood stream. Soluble fibre in oat bran, legumes (dried beans of all kinds, split peas and lentils) and pectin from fruits such as apples is especially helpful for people with type 1 or type 2 diabetes. Soluble fibre helps control blood sugar by delaying gastric (stomach) emptying, slowing down the entry of glucose into the blood and lowering the rise in blood sugar after a meal. Insoluble fibre such as wheat bran makes stools heavier and speeds their passage through the gut. It absorbs water likes a sponge, swelling up and helping to eliminate feces and relieve constipation. Rich sources of insoluble fibre include wheat bran, whole grains as well as the skins and seeds of many fruits and vegetables. Refer to The Benefits Of Eating Fibre on the CDA website.

Eating Away from Home

For many people, eating foods prepared away from home is a way of life. Making healthier choices whether eating in restaurants, fast food venues or even vending machines is possible and important. Some tips to help you make wise food choices while eating away from home can be found at Eating Away From Home - Tips For Making Healthy Choices (CDA 2008).
This document is also available in French language at: francais

Alcohol

As a general rule, there is no need to avoid alcohol because you have diabetes. For most people, moderate alcohol intake is acceptable. Moderation means no more than two drinks per day if you are a man and no more than one drink per day if you are a woman. This recommendation is the same for people without diabetes. The use of alcohol with diabetes should be discussed with your Physician and members of your diabetes health care team. Refer to Alcohol and Diabetes- Is Alcohol A Choice For Me? (CDA 2008). This document is also available in French language at: francais

Sugars and Sweeteners Sugars and sweeteners may be eaten in moderation by people with diabetes. Their effect on blood glucose will vary. A list of sweeteners that Health Canada has approved as safe if taken in amounts up to the Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) can be found in a CDA resource called Sugars And Sweeteners (CDA 2008).
This document is also available in French language at: francais

Sodium (Salt) Facts

Healthy eating plays an important role in managing blood pressure. It is important to limit the sodium (salt) in and added to foods. Foods naturally contain small amounts of sodium but most sodium in our diets is added during food processing. Refer to CDA's resource High Blood Pressure And Diabetes - Tips For Managing Your Blood Pressure (CDA 2009)

Glycemic Index

Glycemic index is a useful tool for the management of blood glucose in those affected by diabetes. It is a scale that ranks carbohydrate-rich foods by how much they raise blood glucose levels compared to a standard food (white bread or glucose). Eating foods with a lower glycemic index may help you to control your blood glucose level, control your cholesterol level, control your appetite, lower your risk of getting heart disease and lower your risk of getting Type 2 diabetes. Refer to The Glycemic Index (CDA 2009).
This document is also available in French language at: francais